Focusing on the cause and impacts of light pollution (2017-18)

The team member interviewed at the TVB Programme Pleasure & Leisure on 13 December 2017

Introducing the HKU’s light pollution map to the “Walk for The Green Earth 2018” event participants

Introducing the HKU’s light pollution map to Mr Wong Kam-Sing, GBS, JP, then Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government during the “Walk for The Green Earth 2018” event

The press briefing on Geminid Meteor Shower on 4 December 2017

The public exhibition “Dark Sky Conservation” introduced the global light pollution situation and HKU-led research on light pollution in Hong Kong

The public exhibition “Dark Sky Conservation” introduced the HKU Outdoor Lighting Directory to visitors

The public exhibition “Dark Sky Conservation” included the interactive games on the impacts of light pollution

Sharing the importance of dark sky conservation to the audience in the Science Forum titled From Anecdotes to the World organized by the Hong Kong Science Museum

Funding year	2017-18
Proposal/Project No.	KP-IP-2017/18-54
Project title	Focusing on the cause and impacts of light pollution
Approved budget (HKD)	100,000

Summary

This project aims to (1) promote good lighting practice by creating an online public directory of good and poor lighting installment in the communities, focusing on all aspects of the light, including intensity, light trespass, and the spectral energy distribution; (2) promote and establish the impact of the project in the local astronomy community; (3) continue our successful international knowledge exchange effort through the Globe at Night – Sky Brightness Monitoring Network project which adopt the HKU-developed standardized method of quantifying the extent of light pollution.

Project Objectives

To promote good practice of lighting in Hong Kong which minimize light pollution
To characterize the composition of light of the common lighting sources in Hong Kong, an important characteristic in determining the amount of light pollution
To establish evidence of impact on the local amateur astronomical community
To promote the light pollution measurement technique developed by HKU and the results from the ongoing HKU’s international light pollution study to the public.

Non-academic Sector(s) benefitted

Hong Kong general public, Hong Kong local astronomy community, international light pollution research community

Deliverables

A press release titled “HKU's astronomers interpret the Geminid Meteor Shower and promote stargazing manners and dark sky conservation” was issued and a press briefing was held on 4 December 2017.
Conducted a light pollution workshop during the “Walk for The Green Earth 2018” event organized by The Green Earth on 13 January 2018.
Held a public exhibition “Dark Sky Conservation” at the Hong Kong Science Museum during the HK SciFest on 24-25 March 2018.
Served as invited speaker for the forum “From Anecdotes to the World” at the Hong Kong Science Museum during the HK SciFest on 24 April 2018.
Served as invited speakers at “Taiwan & Hong Kong Light Pollution Control International Seminar” at the Tainan Astronomical Education Area in Taiwan on 26 May 2018.
Set up an online public directory of good and bad lighting installment in the communities.
Conducted a public survey of the impact of light pollution on the local amateur astronomy community and received up to 513 responses.
Increase the number of monitoring stations (25%) and countries/regions (33%) that participated in the Globe at Night – Sky Brightness Monitoring Network project led by HKU.

Impacts

Enhanced public awareness of light pollution in Hong Kong

Promote good public practice of lighting to reduce light pollution

Continuing impact on global light pollution monitoring overseas

Press release

HKU’s astronomers interpret the Geminid Meteor Shower and promote stargazing manners and dark sky conservation